XMM-Newton RGS spectroscopy of LMC X-3

Details XMM-Newton RGS spectroscopy of LMC X-3 XMM-Newton RGS spectroscopy of LMC X-3

2003-07-24

arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0307419v1

Mon.Not.Roy.Astron.Soc.345:639,2003

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

Accepted for publication in MNRAS

Scientific paper

10.1046/j.1365-8711.2003.06967.x

We present soft X-ray spectroscopy of the black hole binary LMC X-3 from the XMM-Newton Reflection Grating Spectrometer. The observations span the full range of spectral states seen in LMC X-3. The spectra are completely dominated by continuum emission, and the neutral absorbing column measured from the O I edge (NH = 3.8 +0.8 -0.7 10^20 cm^-2) is consistent with the Galactic interstellar column density towards LMC X-3. We find no evidence for variability of the neutral absorbing column. We also constrain the ionized column density using the upper limits to the equivalent width of the O II - O VIII K-shell resonance lines: we find that the equivalent hydrogen column density of gas in which O is partially ionized is < 8 10^20 cm^-2. From this upper limit we can rule out a line driven stellar wind as the power source for the X-ray emission of LMC X-3 except when it is faint. At wavelengths longward of the peak emission the spectral shape is well described by a multi-temperature disk-blackbody spectrum; the powerlaw component which dominates at shorter wavelengths does not continue longward of the disk-blackbody peak. This implies that the multi-temperature disk-blackbody component supplies the seed photons which are Compton upscattered in the hot corona, consistent with the standard paradigm for black hole X-ray binary spectral states.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

XMM-Newton RGS spectroscopy of LMC X-3 does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with XMM-Newton RGS spectroscopy of LMC X-3, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and XMM-Newton RGS spectroscopy of LMC X-3 will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-367340